Cinnamon Roll Cake

This Cinnamon Roll Cake is easy and so delicious! It is perfect for Easter or Mother’s Day Brunch! You will love how this cake tastes just classic cinnamon rolls, but without all the work!

 Cinnamon Roll Cake is one of my favorite baking hacks. I absolutely love cinnamon rolls, but once I had a scarring experience. I have a really old post on my blog (don’t judge the awful photos!) where I share what happened when I decided to make classic homemade cinnamon rolls for Easter.

Long story short, I didn’t read the recipe the whole way through, and the timing was way off. Like having to get up in the middle of the night, off. Don’t get me wrong, that recipe is delicious, but I learned my lesson to read a recipe the whole way through before starting and to plan accordingly!

I’ll be honest, since that experience, I haven’t tackled homemade cinnamon rolls again! I have made some other delicious cinnamon roll dishes like Cinnamon Rolls with Pumpkin Pie Spice Cream Cheese Frosting  or Cinnamon Roll Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting but haven’t done a completely from scratch version ever since.

When we were hosting a brunch at church one weekend years ago, I knew I wanted to try again, but was scared, so I went with an easier alternative, Cinnamon Roll Cake! Everyone loved this recipe and I knew it was a great one to keep in my arsenal for any brunch events! With Mother’s Day and Easter coming up, there will be lots of brunching going on, and I know your guests will love this easy recipe! You start with a simple vanilla cake recipe, top with an ooey gooey cinnamon topping and then a thin layer of cream cheese frosting!

I love cream cheese frosting. I love buttercream too (try this easy vanilla buttercream!) but will always choose cream cheese frosting! There is just something about the delicious tang mixed with the sweet powdered sugar! My recipe is so easy and is the perfect topping for this cake!

If you need an easy brunch recipe, or just love cinnamon rolls, you need to try this Cinnamon Roll Cake!

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Cinnamon Roll Cake

This Easy Cinnamon Roll Cake is perfect for Brunch or Dessert! You will love the taste of cinnamon rolls without all the work! 

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 16 minutes

Total Time 31 minutes

Ingredients

For the cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cups butter melted

For the topping

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 12 tablespoons butter mostly melted

For the frosting

• 4 ounces of cream cheese room temperature
• 4 tablespoons of butter room temperature
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add all cake ingredients except for melted butter. Mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, or until no lumps remain. Slowly add in melted butter in two increments and mix well after each addition.
3. Pour cake batter into cake pan.
4. In a small bowl, add all topping ingredients. Stir well. Pour mixture over cake batter.
5. Using a butter knife, swirl the topping throughout the cake. Make sure to swirl all the way to the bottom.
6. Put cake in the oven and bake for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Bake for additional time if necessary.
7. Allow cake to cool. While cooling, add cream cheese and butter to a bowl. Using either a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat on medium until well combined and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat again until light and fluffy.
8. Once cake is cool, add frosting.